What is Raw Video?

RED Digital Cinema made huge waves when the popularized the idea of shooting in RAW back in 2007. But what is RAW, exactly? Is it high-dynamic range video? Does it have to do with controls for ISO, White Balance, and Tint?

Our Lead Editor & Producer, Patrick Southern, discusses the basics of raw video. From Bayer Patterns to Tone Mapping, find out how RAW sensor data can help your productions elevate to the next level.
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[FuZionVideos]

I teach at a university and create a few tutorial videos as well. I've never been able to explain RAW clearly without blowing over my students' heads. This is a great job of making it easy to understand!

[paulyurkiv]

Awesome video! Thanks for this intro into raw video shooting

[ShaynaPulley]

For the record, I'm learning photography and not videography. This video was the best explanation of RAW for me and I wish I had watched it years ago to understand it, even for just still images. It would have reduced many frustrations with trying to understand why "my RAW photos look like crap".

[IanODonnell]

Thanks man!! This is a really great video and straight to the point. I feel way more informed on the subject now, hahahaha.

[RhythmicEye]

i guess I'm late for the T Shirt. Excellent explanation nevertheless.

[specops]

Awesome explanation thanks for that man!

[postpros-e]

*_THANK YOU_* Patrick! Had I only had this last week at IBC… •sigh•.
_Finally_ I have something to just point people to when this tedious discussion comes up again with exactly ALL of the misconceptions you talk about (many of which are ironically fueled by the ignorance of various Youtubers) and can save my breath. You guys rock. And say hi to Sam for me, I'm bummed I couldn't talk more with him on "the boat". ;)

[ShopperPlug]

"Transcode from a certain codec to RAW"... lmao. Good explanation.

[robertjennings]

Thank you for this excellent video! Panasonic was not mentioned. I have a Panasonic "prosumer" grade 4K camcorder, the HC-X1000. Nowhere in the 180-page manual is RAW or LOG footage mentioned. Apparently it doesn't record in RAW or LOG, and I can't use Final Cut Pro X's color-grading features. Am I wrong about this?

[redakumaproduction]

i need a tutorial just to understand the terms you used.. i think you shoul explain more ..rec 709 ? is this a plane ? please if you do a tutorial dont forget for who it is for...daimit

[sutv]

Very Good Question answered. Thank You.

[britcom]

Fantastic video! Thanks for making this.

[carlitoshuanes]

Very nice! Succinctly put. Plenty of working professionals could not give you a solid definition of what a RAW file is. The info on the BRAW format is news to me. It seems like a very reasonable compromise.

[verywiseoldergentleman]

Is the RAW video comparison still available? I don't see the portfolio page on your website. THX!

[momchilminkov]

Is RAW always 1 to 1 pixel readout? I mean, if the sensor of the camera is 12MP, which is more than 4k video resolution, does it need to crop to a 4k size portion of the sensor in order to record RAW or it's possible to use things like line skipping or oversampling in RAW?

[tubeman]

What about Bits? When they say you can record 16 bit raw externally? Can you explain Bits? Thanks 👍👍:)

[MrKen-wydk]

But, you never said if the letters R A W actually mean anything or is it just a term like "raw" meat?

[lopsangdlama]

can we tell the difference between raw and prores on 8 bit budget monitor ?

[frederikvanreusel]

Can I ask you some questions please, i'm new with raw files and photography.
- Is it normal that my unedited raw files looks 3 times worser (litterly 3 times less pixels) but the file size is way larger, but when i import them into photoshop they autmaticly get 3 times higher quality?
- In what format do you export your edited raw files? I dont know in what format I need to export them...

[gaddamswaroop]

We shoot in Black magic 6k RAW footage plz give suggestion which software is best use to edit